Weft-replenishing mechanism



Patented Sept. 22, 1925. di

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

OSCAR W. RICHARDSON, on WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To CROMPTON a RNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATTON on MASSACHUSETTS.

WEFT-REPLENISHING lVIEC-I'IANISIVI.y

Application filed January 18, 1924. Serial No. 687,102.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OSCAR W. RICHARD- n SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a -new .and useful lVeft-Replenishing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

riihis invention relates to weft replenishing mechanism of the type employing vertical stacks of spare bobbins and has more particular reference to means for controlling the passage of spare bobbins from the stacks to transfer position. A

ln a type of multi-color rcplenishing mechanism which has gone into extensive use the bobbins are 'arranged in vertical stacks and are supported by So-called cradles, one of which is provided for each stack. When a bobbin is to be transferred it is moved to a position under and between the stacks of the bobbins so vas to becentrally located with respect thereto and it has been found that the bobbins originating from the outermost stacks do not roll smoothly down the inclined guideways which lead to the transfer point. The reason for this is thatk the -butt of the bobbin strikes the inclined guide and rebounds, thusV interfering with the free movement of the move without interruption and the resulting unequal motion of the ends of the bobbin presents the bobbin under the transferrer arm with its axis oblique with respect to the axis of the shuttle. Under such circumstances the transferrer is likely to break either the bobbin or the shuttle and it is a general object of my invention to provide improved means yby which the butt of the bobbin can be passed to the transfer position without striking and rebounding from the guideway.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bobbin cradle So constructed as to give adequate support to the bobbin but at 'the saine time provide for the auxiliary or additional guideway which is associated with the principal guideway.

Vith these and other objects in view` mechanism showing my invention appliedk thereto, l

-F ig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the parts in a different position,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is .a section taken on line Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that the inside frame 10 of the repleiiishing mechanism is provided with flanges 11 defining guideways for the butts or heads of the bobbins. Associated with each pair of flanges 11 is a cradle 12 the inner end of which is rotatably mounted on the frame 10 by means of studlB. Said cradle is provided with two `supporting arms, arm 14 extending from the body of the cradle to afford a pivotal `connection with the stud 13 and arm 15 extending parallel to the arm 14Cv but offset therefrom. Formed integrally with the frame 10 is a guideway 16 which is spaced from arm 15 and is formed with an upper guide surface 17. The frame 10 is also provided with a boss 18 which'receives thestud-l and is v located between the armsl/f and 15.

bobbin. The tip of the bobbin continues to -the usual construction except for lthe length The parts previously described may be of of arm 15.

Asfheretofore constructed the guideway .16 hasbeen made substantially as wide as and terminating in Vclose proximity to the inner face 19 of the frame. This construction. has resulted in the formation of a projecting corner on the guideway 16 against which the rings of the bobbin strike as the latter passes out of the cradle to transfer position. It has also been customary to carry the boss 18 backk to the face 19 of the frame 10 and the gap between said boss 18 and the adjacent corner of the'guideway 16 has made it possible for a bobbin to fall against said guideway 16 belowthe plane of the face 17 and to rebound, this rebounding acting to retard the motion of,r

the bobbin toward transfer position. I

In order to prevent this rebounding I have providedfa Web 31 cast integrally with the: frame 10t and extending. between. the guideway 16 and the boss 18, said web having a surface 30 which mergesivith the sur.- face 17. has been turned to receive the lowerniost bobbin of the associated stack and is awaiting the return of the indicating shuttle,theA

arm 15 serving to retain the lovverinost bobbin B as shown. Fig. irepresents the :posi- .heretofore experienced. A

By referring to Figzt it Will beseen that surface 30. of thefvveb-Slis slightly tapered and is raised abovethe plane ot' the surface 17, the-purp.ose of this being to afford a support for thea Wooden portion of the bobbin which extends beyond-.the rings R. In this 'Way the rings are'direetedto glide smoothly onto the face 17. i

From the foregoingit is-apparent that I have provided a very simple means by which a bobbin is directed-r tothe principal or pri- .maryguideway 16by means of the auxiliary or secondary -guidevvay 31, the. result of Which, is tomove the cradlefto transfer positionavithout subjecting the saine to obnoxious rebounding. Also vit is apparent that ithis result is attained Without interfering With the: normal function of arm 15 in supporting the bobbin Having thus. described-'my invention .it will be apparent that changes and modificaltionsinay be made therein'by those skilled intheA art Without departing from the spirit Vand scope of the invention andE I donot Wish to beilimited to the details herein disclosed,

butiivhat I claim is:v

"i 1. In a weft replenishing-imechanism for looms, means defining a guideivay for spare As shown in. Fig. 1 the cradle 12lf bobbins,i a primary guideivay to direct the bobin to transfer position, releasing means for the lowermost bobbin having an arm extending-.between the bobbin. and the guide- Wayf, `and a secondary guideway extending from the primary guideway toward said releasing means and effective to engage a portion of the butt of the bobbin as it is released by said arm and to guide thel saine continuously to the primary guidenay.

2. In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, means defining a vertical guidevray for spare bobins7 a primary guideway todireet bobbins to transfer positioinfi-eleasing ineansvat the bottom'of said guideivay to Vengagetlie loWermost bobbin, an arm formed with said releasingmeans to engage that portion-of the bobbin adjacent the `guideivay, and a secondary guideway of less width than thepriniary guideivay to engageA a portion of the bobbin to guide the saine to the primaryguideway.

3. In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, means defining' a guideway for the bobbins, a releasing` device to receive a bobv bin located at the bottomof the .guideivay7 -a primary guide spaced from said releasing device and Vthe bobbinwvhen the latter is in vthe releasing device, and an auxiliary guide to direct the bobbin continuously dui-ing its entire movement from said releasing means to thel primary guide.Y

4. -In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, means defining a vertical guideway for spare bobbins, a bobbin releasing devicer located at the bottom of the guideway, a primary guide surface to direct the bobbins to transfer position and arranged to engage the rings of the bobbiiis, and a. seconda-ry guide surface positioned between the releasing|-device and thepiimary guide-Way, and .effective ,to continuously vengagethe end portion ofthe released bobbin beyond its bobbinrings; until said bobbin is supported byv said primary guiding surface, said secondary surface beinge higher thanY the prii vmary surface.

vIn testimony whereof I have hereunto aiiixed my signature.'

OSCAR IV. RICHARDSON. 

